Date of Meeting: Monday, January 11, 2010
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:35 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton; Roger Deal; Ken Sydow
Others Present: Nancy Colbert Puff, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; others as noted on sign-in sheet.
Absent: Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel
Financial warrant signed.
Meeting schedule for February through May 10, 2010 approved as presented.
Review of Proposed Municipal/Selectmen’s Budget FY’11:
· Zero percent pay increase for non-contracted employees.
· Some expense lines reduced
· Insurance (Workers’ Comp, General, Health) increased approximately 11 percent
· All other items level-funded
School Department Budget FY’11:
· Submitted level-funded expenses except Vocational Education (due to ten percent increase in Assabet tuition).
· Jim Stanton asked the total increase of salaries; Nancy not sure, will find out.
All Department Budgets:
· Currently, budget is $19K underfunded
· Includes a police cruiser and $25K toward assessment reevaluation. If this is taken out of the operating budget and used as article transfers, the budget would be balanced and be at a plus $34,000.
· Jim Stanton asked if any money is in the Assessors’ overlay to transfer toward the reevaluation. Nancy said she doesn’t believe there is any money available from prior years to transfer.
· A one to two percent salary increase would be possible if $34,000 is left in the budget.
· Jim Stanton would like to address a possible employee salary increase in the budget proposal as more figures become available. Roger Deal and Ken Sydow were in agreement.
Report of Tony Sahagian, Chief of Police, to Board of Selectmen:
· Yearly statistics for 2009 were presented.
o Security checks are up by 60%
o Motor vehicle accidents down by 55% since 2002; down 14% from last year
o Court-related incidents are down 27%
o Arrests are down 34%
· The Chief presented his Annual Statistics Report for the Board’s review.
· Phil Bazydlo is scheduled to return to work February 18.
· The evidence Cadillac title was cleared; the registration has been sent to the District Attorney’s office requesting that the entire proceeds of the sale go to the Town versus 50% going to the District Attorney’s office. Awaiting a response.
· FY’11 Police Dept budget reviewed:
o Jim Stanton asked if the college incentive (Quinn Bill) is funded fully in the budget. Response: Yes.
o The Chief would like to use the maintenance fund money, the sale of the Cadillac, plus other funds available to purchase a new cruiser in 2010. No money would come out of the FY’11 budget. In calendar year 2011, we would need to fund another cruiser replacement in the budget.
o Discussion was held regarding cars being used currently and what would be needed in the future to maintain the same level of service. The Chief feels all cars are needed for use; he does not recommend reducing the size of the fleet, since the current use allows for ‘down time’ for each vehicle, thus adding to the longevity of each vehicle.
Report of Joe Flanagan, Fire Chief, to the Board of Selectmen:
· Delivery of a ladder truck, purchased from the Town of Northborough, took place last week. (A donation of $10,000 by a town resident enabled us to make the purchase.) Captain Don MacKenzie will be training driver/operators for the truck.
· The long-term plan is to modify the station bay in order to park the truck there. It is currently at the Phillips’ garage on Linden Street.
· The Chief estimates the delivery time for the new ambulance to be May or June.
· The Department has made several sprinkler-related calls to local businesses recently.
· There has been an increase in CO2 alarm calls due to improperly functioning oil burners or pellet stoves.
· Boylston is sponsoring the fifth Annual Ice Fishing Derby on Newton Pond on Saturday, January 30.
· Roger Deal asked the justification for keeping two full-time EMT/FF positions in addition to the Chief. Joe said it is based on call volume and coverage needed in the ambulance and at the station.
Report of Don Parker, Highway Superintendent, to the Board of Selectmen:
· The Department’s employees have been working to keep up with sanding/plowing.
· There have been some equipment repairs made.
· Don presented a brief review of his FY’11 budget (level-funded)
Report of the Building Inspector to the Board of Selectmen:
· In December 2009 16 permits were issued for a total of $2,705 in fees; 39 inspections were made and three stop-work orders were issued.
· In 2009 15 more permits were issued over 2008. There was a decrease in fees of $12,647 collected due to projects being additions and renovations versus new construction.
· FY’11 budget submitted with a reduction in clerical salary to offset an increase in mileage expense and office expense.
· Roger Deal asked the Building Inspector regarding his average mileage per month. Is it 667 miles? Response: Yes.
Zoning Board of Appeals Appointment Volunteer:
· Bradford Wyatt submitted an application and resume for the position (he also serves on the Boylston School Committee).
· Jim Stanton inquired if he sees a conflict with the School Committee; he does not.
· The Board will wait to hear feedback from Bill Filsinger and has taken the application under advisement until the next meeting.
Report of the Town Administrator to the Board of Selectmen:
Insurance Advisory Committee:
· A motion was made to approve appointments as follows:
o Town Hall: Lori Esposito
o Fire Department: Joe Flanagan
o Police Department: Robert Thomas
o Highway Department: Steve Mero
o Library: Nick Langhart
o Electric Department: Mike Lucia
o School Department: To be determined
o Retiree: To be determined
Planning Board:
· The resignation of Jennifer McGrath from the Planning Board has been accepted. The position will be advertised in the Telegram & Gazette and/or The Banner.
· The Board requests that Dr. Baker be scheduled for a meeting with the Board in February for a joint appointment.
Asian Long-Horned Beetle: Out of 2,900 trees inspected to date in Boylston, eight have been found to be infected with Asian Long-Horned Beetles.
George Stowe Farm: The Massachusetts Department of Agriculture would like the Board to announce their interest in acquiring an APR on the Stowe property described as “Assessor Map 53, Lot 8 – Main Street – Route 70. Confirmation read as follows:
“I, James B. Stanton, Chair of the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Boylston, Massachusetts, do hereby certify that on January 11, 2010, it was announced at a public meeting of the Board of Selectmen that the Department of Agricultural Resources is considering the acquisition of the property described in the attached letter dated December 30, 2009. I further certify this agenda item was specifically described in the notice of the January 11, 2010 public meeting.”
Declaration signed by Mr. Stanton and handed to Nancy Colbert Puff.
Mileage Reimbursement Rate: The IRS has reduced the mileage rate from .55¢ to .50¢ per mile. The Board voted to adopt the new rate, effective February 1, 2010.
MCJTC Lease: After the Town denied MCJTC’s request for a 25% rent reduction, the Town Administrator received a telephone call asking if we have any interest in a reduction of the monthly rent at all. Ken Sydow said it is already reduced, in effect. We no longer collect a stipend for utilities on a yearly basis. Jim Stanton agreed with Ken, and the Board agreed they would not offer anything additional in rent reduction.
Gough House: This will be placed on a future agenda for the purpose of discussing leasing and use of the house.
Wachusett Earth Day: A motion was made to approve the Town Administrator as our representative on the Operating Committee for Wachusett Earth Day.
Meeting Minutes: Motions were made by Ken Sydow and seconded by Roger Deal to approve the following meeting minutes: December 14, 2009; November 30, 2009 and November 16, 2009.
At 8:20pm, Mr. Sydow motioned to go into Executive Session under M.G.L. Ch. 39, §23B, ¶2 to discuss 9/21/2009 Executive Session Minutes. The Board agreed they would reconvene in open session only to adjourn. Mr. Deal seconded the motion and the role call vote was recorded as follows: Mr. Sydow-yes, Mr. Deal-yes and Mr. Stanton-yes.
After returning to open session at 8:35 PM, a motion was made, seconded and voted all in favor to adjourn.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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